Amateur talent show? Top mentors are my students.

The audition results came out on the afternoon of the third day.

He Xu was doing a plank on the living room floor when his phone vibrated on the edge of the coffee table.

He held on for three minutes before getting up, picking up his phone to check—an email from Lisa with only one line in the subject: "Welcome aboard."

He stared at the words for a few seconds, put down his phone, and continued with the next set of movements.

When Jiang Yanbai came down from the second floor, He Xu had already finished the third set, his arms were trembling slightly, and beads of sweat were dripping down his nose.

He glanced at He Xu, then at the lit-up phone screen on the coffee table, walked over, picked it up, and scanned it.

Then he froze.

"...Did you receive an offer?"

"...Hmm." He Xu's muffled voice came from the floor. "...Put my phone down."

"You—you just said 'uh-huh'?" Jiang Yanbai held up his phone, his expression a mix of shock and speechlessness. "You got selected! A Hollywood movie! You're going to make a movie! And you just said 'uh-huh'?"

"What else?" He Xu finally couldn't hold on any longer, collapsing onto the floor and turning her head to look at him. "Should I dance to celebrate?"

Jiang Yanbai stared at him for three seconds, then shook his head and put his phone back on the coffee table: "You're truly the calmest person I've ever met. But it's okay—I've already excited for you."

He Xu rolled over, lying on his back on the floor, staring at the ceiling and panting: "...When will the contract be signed?"

"Jen is already handling it. She said she'll give you the official documents to review once they're ready—are you sure you want to take this?"

"I'm sure." He Xu's voice was slightly panting from exercising. "If I don't answer, those guys and interview requests will keep coming at me endlessly. Answering them will actually bring some peace and quiet."

Jiang Yanbai looked at him lying slumped on the floor, the corners of his mouth curved slightly, and he didn't say anything more.

-

The contract was officially delivered a week later.

A thick stack of papers was placed in a dark gray folder, with the production company's logo printed on the cover.

When Jen brought the documents to his residence, He Xu had just returned from his morning run, his hair was still wet, and a small patch of his T-shirt was soaked with sweat on the back.

He sat on the living room sofa, took the folder Jen handed him, and opened the first page to start reading.

The terms and conditions are densely packed, with both Chinese and English versions.

Jen had already marked each item for him—his salary, profit sharing, publicity cooperation obligations, confidentiality agreement, injury and illness insurance, and accommodation and transportation arrangements during filming—each page had a handwritten note on the edge, with brief notes written in blue ink.

He Xu flipped through the pages one by one, occasionally stopping to ask, "What does this mean?" Jen would lean over and glance at it, then explain it clearly in a few words.

It took him more than an hour to read through the entire contract, then he closed the folder and placed it on his lap.

"...You can sign now."

Jen pulled a black pen from her briefcase and handed it to her: "Last page, signature section."

He Xu turned to the last page, bowed his head and signed his name. The strokes were neater than usual, as if it were a kind of silent solemnity.

He capped the pen and handed the folder back to Jen: "Thanks."

Jen took the folder, put it into her briefcase, and the zipper made a crisp sound as it was zipped up.

She stood up, patted the hem of her skirt, and said with her characteristic businesslike composure, "You're welcome. I'll handle the rest—I'll keep an eye on the follow-up schedule coordination, media liaison, and pre-production preparations. If there's any work you don't want to take, just tell me, and I'll get you out of it."

He Xu leaned back on the sofa, watching her movement, and suddenly spoke: "Jen."

"Um?"

Have you ever considered... becoming my agent?

Jen turned to look at him, her expression unchanged, but her eyebrows twitched slightly.

He Xu continued, "What I mean is that you're doing more work than an agent right now, sorting emails, filtering data—you even put the sticky notes on my contract. I'd feel bad if you didn't get a share of the profits."

Jen paused for two seconds, then said in a flat tone, "Jin Xian will kill me."

He Xu was taken aback: "...Jin Xian?"

"She told me to keep an eye on you, not to poach you." Jen slung her briefcase over her shoulder. "You're still officially a contracted choreographer with Aurora Media. If Jin Xian knew I'd signed you privately, she'd probably fly all the way from China to confront me."

He Xu opened his mouth, then closed it again: "...Fine, forget I said anything."

Jen went to the entryway to change her shoes, and as she opened the door, she glanced at him sideways: "But if you really want to change agents—it's not too late to talk about it after you finish filming this movie—by then Aurora Media might not be able to keep you."

The door closed.

He Xu sat on the sofa, staring at the closed door, and paused for a moment: "...Why did she talk like I was guaranteed to become famous?"

Jiang Yanbai came down from the second floor, holding a cup of coffee in her hand: "Because she has seen too many people—she can tell who will become what."

He Xu turned his head and glanced at him: "You sound like you're praising me."

"I was actually complimenting you," Jiang Yanbai said, sitting down opposite him. "You only just realized it?"

He Xu didn't reply, but the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

He looked down at his fingers resting on his knees, and remained silent for a while, as if digesting the weight of the contract.

Then he spoke, his voice lower than before: "...I never imagined I would make a movie."

"Then you can start thinking about it now." Jiang Yanbai took a sip of coffee. "You'll be joining the crew for special training next month, so you'd better start preparing mentally now."

"What kind of mental preparation?"

"You're about to become an action actor." Jiang Yanbai put down his coffee cup. "Physical fitness, combat, daggers, marksmanship—John's coaches are all professionals."

He Xu's lips twitched: "...Are you trying to scare me?"

You'll find out when the time comes.